Freedom of religion in Northern Cyprus
Encyclopedia
The constitution of Northern Cyprus
protects the freedom of religion, and it states that Northern Cyprus is a secular
state. The US Department of State report in 2002 stated that religious freedom was protected by law in Northern Cyprus and the government generally respected the freedom of religion. The freedom of religion report in 2007 by US Department of State also stated that "Turkish Cypriot authorities generally respected this right in practice" and the practice of religion was generally free. In 2009, Minority Rights Group International also reported that Turkish Cypriot authorities respected religious freedom in general.
In 1982, in the weekly magazine Olay, the Turkish Cypriot journalist, Mehmet Yasin, highlighted the problem of the trafficking of stolen Byzantine art from orthodox churches in Northern Cyprus. Christopher Hitchens, in his book Hostage to History: Cyprus from the Ottomans to Kissinger, quoted Yasin:
In January 2002, BBC News noted that since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
in 1974:
In August 2004, Associated Press reported a bomb explosion at St. Mamas church, that was clearly intended to deter the planned first church service to be held there in decades:
In April 2008, The Christian Post reported on the church of St. Mamas:
On 28 September 2010, Resolution 1631, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives:
The Turkish Foreign Ministry responded with a press released statement saying that the resolution had "many factual errors which may harm the credibility of the House of Representatives".
On 27 January 2011, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
, in written declaration no. 467, condemned the:
Where it was noted that Turkish troops forced the priest conducting the service to remove his vestments and ordered everybody to leave the church thus violating the European Convention on Human Rights
.
On 14 March 2011, two Polish MEPs and two former Greek-Cypriot MEPs were detained by police in Northern Cyprus. One of the MEPs was the son of former Polish president Lech Walesa. They were visiting a church in a fenced off suburb of Famagusta in a larger group of people including Bulgarian MP Mariya Nedelcheva and two orthodox christian priests:
On 18 March 2011, 204 Greek school books, including religious books, that were being taken to the schools at Rizokarpaso were confiscated by Turkish Cypriot customs officers at the Pergamos village barricade. The Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper Afrika, in a front page article, criticised those who claim that there is freedom of religion in Northern Cyprus when the religious books were confiscated.
Constitution of Northern Cyprus
The Constitution of the Northern Cyprus was prepared by the Constituent Assembly of Northern Cyprus after the declaration of independence on 15 November 1983, and was approved by the Turkish Cypriot electorate on 5 May 1985 with a majority of 70.16 percent...
protects the freedom of religion, and it states that Northern Cyprus is a secular
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
state. The US Department of State report in 2002 stated that religious freedom was protected by law in Northern Cyprus and the government generally respected the freedom of religion. The freedom of religion report in 2007 by US Department of State also stated that "Turkish Cypriot authorities generally respected this right in practice" and the practice of religion was generally free. In 2009, Minority Rights Group International also reported that Turkish Cypriot authorities respected religious freedom in general.
Anglican churches
There are two Anglican churches is Northern Cyprus. They are:- St Andrew's Church in KyreniaKyreniaKyrenia is a town on the northern coast of Cyprus, noted for its historic harbour and castle. Internationally recognised as part of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyrenia has been under Turkish control since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974...
- St Mark's Church in FamagustaFamagustaFamagusta is a city on the east coast of Cyprus and is capital of the Famagusta District. It is located east of Nicosia, and possesses the deepest harbour of the island.-Name:...
Orthodox christianity
In 2010, the US Department of State reported that "Greek Cypriot Orthodox and Maronite Catholics were allowed to perform religious services on a regular basis, without prior permission."In 1982, in the weekly magazine Olay, the Turkish Cypriot journalist, Mehmet Yasin, highlighted the problem of the trafficking of stolen Byzantine art from orthodox churches in Northern Cyprus. Christopher Hitchens, in his book Hostage to History: Cyprus from the Ottomans to Kissinger, quoted Yasin:
"Haven't you heard that the 2,000-year-old Christian church in Cyprus, St. Barnabus's Church, has been robbed? Haven't you heard that 35 icons were stolen, that 11 of them were found in KythreaKythreaKythrea is a village on the island of Cyprus.Kythrea is situated near the ancient kingdom of Chytroi which was founded by Chytros. Chytroi was one of the ten city-kingdoms of Cyprus in antiquity. According to one tradition the name Kythrea came from Chytroi...
, that 11 were retrieved at Ankara airport while being smuggled out, and that the rest are lost"
In January 2002, BBC News noted that since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, launched on 20 July 1974, was a Turkish military invasion in response to a Greek military junta backed coup in Cyprus...
in 1974:
"... more than 500 churches have been under Turkish control. Some have been destroyed, many ransacked - icons and frescoes have disappeared. It is one of the most systematic examples of the looting of art since World War II."
"... over the last 28 years, the heritage of the church in northern Cyprus has fallen into the hands of smugglers and vandals."
In August 2004, Associated Press reported a bomb explosion at St. Mamas church, that was clearly intended to deter the planned first church service to be held there in decades:
"The attack followed media reports that Turkish Cypriot extremist groups had vowed to try to prevent services planned next week at the Saint Mamas church to celebrate its namesake's saint's day.
"The church, which has been used as a museum for Orthodox icons since the invasion, was empty at the time of the blast that damaged the main church door, its ceiling and shattered windows of both the church and nearby buildings."
In April 2008, The Christian Post reported on the church of St. Mamas:
"St. Mamas Church in the northwest town of Morphou is the only notable church that is known to be semi-active in Turkey-controlled Cyprus, according to the New York-based Hellenic Times and the Embassy of The Republic of Cyprus in the United States. Turkish officials who rule the area reportedly give permission twice a year for remaining residents – who were there before Turkish occupation – to worship in the church.
On 28 September 2010, Resolution 1631, was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives:
"... calling for the protection of religious sites and artifacts from and in Turkish-occupied areas of northern Cyprus as well as for general respect for religious freedom."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry responded with a press released statement saying that the resolution had "many factual errors which may harm the credibility of the House of Representatives".
On 27 January 2011, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, in written declaration no. 467, condemned the:
"Interruption of the Christmas mass in the northern occupied part of Cyprus by Turkish troops and restrictions to the right to freedom of religion and worship."
Where it was noted that Turkish troops forced the priest conducting the service to remove his vestments and ordered everybody to leave the church thus violating the European Convention on Human Rights
European Convention on Human Rights
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe, the convention entered into force on 3 September 1953...
.
On 14 March 2011, two Polish MEPs and two former Greek-Cypriot MEPs were detained by police in Northern Cyprus. One of the MEPs was the son of former Polish president Lech Walesa. They were visiting a church in a fenced off suburb of Famagusta in a larger group of people including Bulgarian MP Mariya Nedelcheva and two orthodox christian priests:
"... the team had gone north to witness firsthand the "destruction of Greek Orthodox churches in the north"."
"... the four men had entered the courtyard of a derelict Varosha Orthodox Christian church when they were confronted by soldiers who turned them over to arriving police officers."
On 18 March 2011, 204 Greek school books, including religious books, that were being taken to the schools at Rizokarpaso were confiscated by Turkish Cypriot customs officers at the Pergamos village barricade. The Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper Afrika, in a front page article, criticised those who claim that there is freedom of religion in Northern Cyprus when the religious books were confiscated.